# US 10,499,930 B2 · Method, system, and apparatus for boney structure tap > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,930 B2 - Document ID: US10499930B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/771,071 - Filed: 2013-02-19 - Published: 2014-04-10 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-16 - Applicants: TorreySpine, Inc. - Inventors: Jason Yim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499930B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/1655: {for tapping} - A61B 2090/062: {penetration depth} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Embodiments of a bony structure tap with a plurality of landmarks. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dense tissue tap apparatus for creating a threaded tap of a first diameter within a dense tissue to a known depth, comprising: an elongated shift including a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis between the ends, the shaft including a non-tapping section at the proximal end and a tapping section at the distal end, the tapping section including: a continuous tapping section extending from a distal most end and having a first length and including a tapping thread having a first maximum outer diameter that may create a threaded tap of the first diameter in dense tissue; and a first reduced diameter section immediately and proximately adjacent the continuous tapping section, the first reduced diameter section having a second length and a second maximum outer diameter less than the first maximum outer diameter; a first marker section immediately and proximately adjacent the first reduced diameter section, the first marker section having a third length and a maximum outer diameter about equal to the first maximum outer diameter; a second reduced diameter section immediately and proximately adjacent the first marker section, the second reduced diameter section having the second length and the second maximum outer diameter; a second marker section immediately and proximately adjacent the second reduced diameter section, the second marker section having the third length and a maximum outer diameter about equal to the first maximum outer diameter; and a third reduced diameter section immediately and proximately adjacent the second marker section, the third reduced diameter section having a fourth length and the second maximum outer diameter, the fourth length less than or equal to the second length, wherein the third length is less than half the first length, and wherein the first marker section and the second marker section include a tapping thread similar to the continuous tapping section tapping thread. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the continuous tapping section, the first marker section, and the second marker section are formed of a substantially radiopaque material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft is cannulated from its proximal end to its distal end along its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dense tissue tap apparatus is configured to create a threaded tap for a threaded implant having a maximum outer diameter greater than the first maximum outer diameter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the continuous tapping section, the first marker section, and the second marker section tapping threads include similar spiral threads. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 5, wherein the continuous tapping section spiral thread is spirally aligned with the first marker section spiral thread and the second marker section spiral thread along the shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 6, wherein the dense tissue tap apparatus is configured to create a spiral threaded tap for a spiral threaded implant having a maximum outer diameter greater than the first maximum outer diameter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 7, wherein the dense tissue is bony tissue and the threaded implant is a bone screw. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first length is a first integer multiple of a first number and the sum of the second length and the third length is a second integer multiple of the first number, the second integer multiple less than the first integer multiple. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first number is 5 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first integer multiple is 7 and the second integer multiple is 2. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 1, the elongated shaft proximal end including a tool coupling interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third length is less than one tenth of the first length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first length is a first integer multiple of a first number and the sum of the second length and the third length is a second integer multiple of the first number, the second integer multiple less than the first integer multiple. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first number is 5 mm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first integer multiple is 7 and the second integer multiple is 2. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 15, wherein the dense tissue is bony tissue and the dense tissue tap apparatus is configured to create a threaded tap for a threaded implant having a maximum outer diameter greater than the first maximum outer diameter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The dense tissue tap apparatus of claim 15, wherein the third length is less than one tenth of the first length.